Device for actuating an electronic locking system and/or a lock integrated in a door, a flap or the like, especially in a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for actuating an electronic locking system and/or a lock integrated in a door ( 40 ), a flap or the like, especially in a motor vehicle. Said locking system or lock is actuated by a handle ( 10 ) mounted on the door outer side ( 41 ). Said handle ( 10 ) is fixed to the door ( 40 ) by means of a support shoulder ( 11 ). The fixation can be of a swiveled type. Known door handles are provided with plug-in couplings mounted on the support shoulder ( 11 ) of the door handle ( 10 ) to contact the electronics mounted in the handle with control electronics. The aim of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of such a device. To this end, an electric coupling element ( 31 ) is swivellably mounted on the support shoulder ( 11 ). The support ( 20 ) on the door carries a swivelably and/or slideably mounted, electric counter coupling element ( 32 ). The inventive device allows that the electric coupling elements ( 31, 32 ) of the electric plug-in coupling ( 30 ) can be coupled into the door opening simultaneously with the insertion of the support shoulder ( 11 ) of the door handle ( 10 ), namely already in the first assembly stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for actuating an electronic lockingsystem and/or a lock integrated in a door, a flat, or the like,especially in a motor vehicle, including a handle arranged on theexterior side of the door has generally two projections which penetrateopenings in the door and project from the back side of the door panel.One projection can comprise a bearing for a pivot support of the handleon a bearing block fixedly connected on the back side of the door,wherein the bearing block has complementary counter bearings. This firstprojection therefore serves as a bearing projection of the handle.

The second projection of the handle serves primarily as a furthersecuring means of the handle on the door. The second projection can alsobe configured such that, upon actuation of the handle, it cooperateswith lock members on the inner side of the door. Accordingly, by meansof this working projection a lock can be actuated after actuation of thehandle. Mounting of the handle is realized from the exterior side of thedoor where the bearing projection as well as the working projection areinserted through the respective openings in the door until they are inthe prescribed position on the inner side of the door in the area of thebearing block, on the one hand, and in the area of the lock members, onthe other hand. In order to achieve this, a certain movement sequence ofthe handle is required during the mounting movement through the dooropening.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a device of the aforementioned kind known from DE 196 33 894 A1, thehandle comprises electronic components in the handle interior which areconnected by an electrical line with an electrical coupling provided onthe end of the bearing projection. In the mounted state of the doorhandle, the electrical coupling is connected by means of an electricalcounter coupling part and an electrical control line connected theretowith an electronic device of the vehicle. In this known door handle, thebearings of the handle on the bearing projection are arranged inimmediate vicinity of the electrical coupling part. When mounting thehandle according to DE 196 33 894 A1, the electrical coupling partwithin the bearing projection is inserted into an electrical countercoupling part which is provided on a support already mounted on thedoor.

The disadvantage of the device of 196 33 894 A1 is that it is relativelycomplex with regard to manufacturing technology and that special countercoupling parts must be employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to develop a reliable device ofthe kind mentioned above which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention, the electrical coupling part,which is arranged on the bearing projection of the door handle, isarranged pivotably on it and that the electrical counter coupling part,which must be inserted during mounting of the door handle on the doorinto the electrical coupling part, is also arranged pivotably at leaston a frame part of a support provided on the door. Advantageously, theelectrical coupling part can be detachably secured in an initialposition on the bearing projection at the beginning of mounting of thedoor handle on the door so that the electrical coupling part cannotpivot away upon insertion into the electrical counter coupling part.

The electrical counter coupling part can have a shaped means whichprevents pivoting of the electrical counter coupling part in the initialposition of mounting. This could be, for example, a nose which ispositioned within the opening area of the electrical counter couplingpart.

Advantageously, the present invention can be produced relatively simplywith regard to manufacturing technology. In comparison to normal doorhandles or coupling part arranged thereat only one bearing must beprovided on the bearing projection of the door handle. The coupling partcan be a commercially available electrical coupling part which must onlybe expanded by a bearing. Also, the employed counter coupling part canbe a commercially available counter coupling part which is onlymodified.

In the mounted state the present electrical plug-in coupling has theadvantage that the electrical coupling parts cannot move relative to oneanother upon a pivot movement of the handle. Accordingly, no wear of theelectrical plug contact can result. Moreover, the present inventionenables a simple and simultaneous mounting of the electrical plug-incoupling and the handle on the door.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electrical countercoupling part is arranged on the support part by means of a pivot leverwhich is rotatably supported twofold. One of these bearings this ispreferably lockable in one position so that in this position only one ofthe bearings is pivotable. This ensures a simple insertion of theelectrical coupling part into the electrical counter coupling part uponmounting of the door handle on the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further advantages and measures of the invention result from thedependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In thedrawings the invention is illustrated with one embodiment. It is shownin:

FIG. 1 schematically a longitudinal section of the device fastened onthe door of a vehicle, wherein a first mounting position of the handlecorrelated therewith is illustrated;

FIG. 2 schematically an enlarged detail of FIG. 1 according to thedash-dotted rectangle II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1,with a second mounting position of the device according to the inventionillustrated therein;

FIG. 4 schematically a section corresponding to FIG. 1 with a thirdmounting position of the device according to the invention illustratedtherein;

FIG. 5 schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1 witha fourth mounting position of the device according to the inventionillustrated therein;

FIG. 6 schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1 witha fifth mounting position of the device according to the inventionillustrated therein;

FIG. 7 schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1 witha final mounting position of the device according to the inventionillustrated therein;

FIG. 8 schematically a section according to the section line VIII—VIIIof FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 schematically a section according to the section line IX—IX ofFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 the device according to the invention is illustratedin a first mounting position. On the backside 42 of a door 40 a supportis mounted which is secured in its position by means of one or morescrews 29 on the door panel. In the door 40 several openings 44, 45, 46are provided which are penetrated, during and after mounting of the doorhandle 10, by its forward and rearward projections 11, 12.

The door handle 10 has a handle interior 19 in which electroniccomponents are positioned which cooperate with an electronic controldevice of the locking system or the like. At the leading end of the doorhandle a projection 11 is formed on the door handle 10 which is embodiedas a bearing projection. On this bearing projection 11 a bearing 51 isprovided which in the mounted state of the door handle 10 cooperateswith a bearing 52 of the support part 20. The support part 20 has forthis purpose a bearing block 21 on which the counter bearing 52 isarranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the door handle is pivotablysecured on the bearings 51, 52 in the mounted state. An electricalcoupling part 31 of an electrical plug-in connection 30 is also arrangedon the bearing projection 11. The electrical coupling part 31 ispivotably supported on the bearing projection 11 by means of a pivotbearing 71, which is comprised of a bearing hole 17 provided in thebearing projection 11 and a rotary bearing axle 36 provided on theelectrical coupling part 31. The rotary bearing axle 36 is connected bya U-shaped bearing projection 35 with the electrical coupling part 31.The electrical coupling part has moreover an engagement point 37 whichcan be engaged by securing means 31 of the bearing projection 11. InFIGS. 1, 2 and 9 a first mounting position of the door handle 10 isillustrated in which the electrical coupling part 31 is in this securingposition 77.

The electrical coupling part 31 is electrically connected by aconnecting line 18 with electronic components in the handle interior 19.

On the support part 22 securing stays 20′ are arranged on which theelectrical counter coupling part 32 of the electrical plug connection 30is secured pivotably and slidably.

The detailed configuration and the arrangement of the electrical countercoupling part 32 on the securing stay 20′ of the support part 20 can beseen in FIGS. 2 and 8. In the area of the door opening 44, through whichthe bearing projection 11 of the door handle 11 is guided through thedoor 40, a securing stay 20′ as an extension of the support part 20 isformed on the support part 20 on opposed sides of the door opening 44parallel to the direction of extension of the handle. These securingstays 20′ are provided with a bearing eye 28 and a guide slot 27 formedthereon. The bearing eye 28 serves for pivoting a bearing pin 24 on apivot lever 22. A rearward part of this bearing pin 24 on the pivotlever 22 is formed as a sliding block 26. The bearing pin 24 with thesliding block 26 can have two positions 75 and 76. In the first positionof the bearing pin 24, the sliding block 26 is positioned in the guideslot 27 on the securing stay 20′. A pivot movement of the bearing 73formed of the bearing eye 28 and the bearing pin 24 is not possible. Ina second position 76 of the bearing pin 24 in the bearing eye 28, thesliding block 26 is moved out of the guide slot 27 and the bearing pin24 is positioned entirely within the bearing eye 28 and is rotatabletherein. The bearing 73 is now pivotable. On the pivot lever 22 abearing eye 23 is arranged on its second pivot lever side in which thebearing pin 39 of the electrical counter coupling part 32 is inserted.The bearing pin 39 and the bearing eye 23 from the bearing 74 on whichthe electrical counter coupling part 32 is pivotably arranged. Thebearings 73 and 74 form together a double pivot bearing 72 defined bythe pivot lever 22. On the electric counter coupling part 32 a supplyand control line 38 is arranged via which the electrical countercoupling member 32 is connected to an electronic control.

Mounting of the device according to the invention is carried out inseveral movement steps. In FIG. 1 a first movement step of the assemblyis illustrated. The door handle 10 is first inserted, corresponding tothe direction of the insertion arrow 53, with its bearing projection 11into the door opening 44 and, in this way, the electrical coupling part31 is inserted, corresponding to the direction of arrow 60, into theelectric counter coupling part 32. The bearing 74 is blocked during thisprocess by the sliding block 26 which is positioned in the guide slot27.

In FIG. 3 the position reached after this first mounting step isillustrated. The electrical coupling part 31 and the electrical countercoupling 32 form together the electrical plug-in connection 30 in whicha contacting is achieved via the pin contacts 33 and the bushing contact34 which are inserted into one another. The two coupling parts 31 and 32are secured on one another by coupling means 31′ and counter couplingmeans 32′. This connection is detachable for repair purposes or thelike.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further mounting direction of the door handle 10.Corresponding to the illustrated rotational movement in the direction ofrotation arrow 54, the projection/working projection 12 of the doorhandle 10 is pivoted into the door opening 45 of the door 40 from theexterior side 41. In this connection, the bearing 71 is moved in therotational direction 54′, and the securing means 13 is released in thedirection of arrow 54″ from the engagement point 37 of the electricalcoupling part 31. The electrical coupling part 31 and thus theelectrical plug-in connection 30 are now in the release position 78.

At the end of this mounting movement, the leading end of the workingprojection 10 of the door handle 10 is positioned shortly behind thedoor opening 45, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Starting from this position,the door handle 10 is further pivoted in the direction of rotation arrow55. In this connection, the rearward surface 14 of the bearingprojection 11 rests against the stop 50 of the support part 20 andbecomes the elbow of an elbow lever. The bearing projection 11 ispivoted in this connection in the direction of arrow 55″ on the stop 50.As a result of this pivot movement, a lateral movement 55′ is exertedonto the bearing pin 24 and its sliding block 26 which thus moves out ofthe guide slot 27.

In FIG. 5 the position of the door handle 10 on the door 40 aftercompletion of mounting movement 55 is illustrated. It is shown that thebearing pin 24 is now completely located within the bearing eye 28 andis thus also rotatable. In FIG. 5 moreover the further mounting movementof the door handle 10 is illustrated. Corresponding to arrow 56, thedoor handle 10 is moved farther into the door. This results in arotation on the bearing 71 corresponding to the rotational direction56″. The rotation of the bearing 73 is indicated by arrow 56′.Corresponding to the eccentricity of the pivot lever 22, its secondbearing with the bearing eye 23 moves upwardly. The bearing 74compensates the movement of the bearing 73.

In FIG. 6 the end position of the mounting movement 56 is illustrated.The handle is now positioned against the door 40.

The door handle 10 is now moved corresponding to the mounting movement54 along the depression 43 of the door 40 in the direction of arrow 57.This results in a rotation 57′ on the bearing 73. Corresponding to theeccentricity of the pivot lever 22, its second bearing with the bearingeye 23 moves again downwardly. The bearings 71, 74 again provide aflowing pivot movement. At the end of this last mounting movement, thebearing eye 15 has moved about the counter bearing 25 and embraces it.The working projection 12 of the door handle 10 moves behind the lockingmember 16 with which, by means of the door handle 10, a lock can beactuated. For further securing of the door handle 10, the cylindercolumn 61 and the lock cylinder 62 must be inserted into the dooropening 46 so that a return movement of the door handle 10 counter tothe mounting movement 57 is no longer possible.

It should be noted in this context that instead of the cylinder column61 and the lock cylinder 62 also a blind cap can be inserted as is thecase, for example, in fully automated locking systems which require nomechanical adjusting movement. By means of the illustrated controlmember 63 the locking system/lock can be secured or released by means ofactuation of the lock cylinder 62.

It should be also noted that the present invention is not limited to theillustrated embodiment. Other embodiments are also conceivable. Forexample, instead of the double pivot bearing 72 also a guide slot can beprovided on the securing stay 20′ on which the electrical countercoupling part 32 is directly supported (not illustrated in the drawing).

Also, on the electrical counter coupling part 32 in the direction of theworking projection 12 a further nose can be formed which secures theelectrical counter coupling part 32 in position during insertion of theelectrical coupling part (not illustrated in the drawing).

Instead of the sliding block 26 and the guide slot 27 other means forsecuring a bearing can also be provided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 handle (rest position)-   11 projection/bearing projection-   12 projection/working projection-   13 securing means-   14 rearward surface of 11-   15 bearing eye of 11-   16 locking member (rest position)-   17 bearing hole in 11-   18 connecting line for 31-   19 handle interior of 10-   20 support part-   20′ securing stay of 20-   21 stationary bearing block of 20-   22 pivot lever-   23 bearing eye in 22-   24 bearing pin on 22-   25 counter bearing to 15-   26 sliding block on 22-   27 guide slot-   28 bearing eye in 20′-   29 screw in 20-   30 electrical plug-in connection-   31 electrical coupling part of 30-   31′ coupling means-   32 electrical counter coupling part of 30 (rest position)-   32′ counter coupling means-   33 pin contact in 32-   34 bushing contact in 31-   35 U-shaped bearing projection-   36 rotary bearing axle of 35-   37 engagement point for 13-   38 supply and control line for 32-   39 bearing pin on 32-   40 door, door panel-   41 exterior side of 40-   42 inner side of 40-   43 depression in 40-   44 first door opening for 11-   45 second door opening for 12-   46 third door opening for 61-   50 stop-   51 bearing on 11-   52 counter bearing on 21, 20-   53 insertion arrow (mounting movement)-   54 rotation arrow (mounting movement)-   54′ rotational direction bearing 71-   54″ release movement of 13-   55 rotation arrow (mounting movement)-   55′ retraction movement of 26-   55″ rotational movement on stop 50-   56 arrow (mounting movement)-   56′ rotational direction, bearing 73-   56″ rotational direction, bearing 71-   57 last pushing movement phase (mounting movement)-   57′ rotational movement on the bearing 73-   60 arrow for insertion direction of 31 into 32-   61 cylinder column-   62 lock cylinder of 61-   63 control member of 62-   71 pivot bearing-   72 double pivot bearing-   73 bearing-   74 bearing-   75 first position of bearing pin 24-   76 second position of bearing pin 24-   77 securing position of the electrical coupling part (31)-   78 release position of the electrical coupling part (31)

1. Device for actuating an electronic locking system or a lock mountedin a vehicle, comprising a handle (10) arranged on an exterior side (41)of a door, which said handle has a projection (11), penetrating anopening (44) in the door (40) and projecting from an inner side (42) ofthe door and, serving as a bearing projection (11), having bearings(51), and comprising a support part (20) arranged on the inner side (42)of the door which supports a bearing block (21) having counter bearings(52) for the bearings (51) of the handle, and the handle (10) has ahandle interior (19) in which electric or electronic means are arrangedwhich are connected by lines (18, 38) and an electric plug-in connection(30) with an electronic control device, wherein one electric couplingpart (31) of the electric plug-in connection (30) is arranged on thebearing projection (11) of the handle (10), wherein the handle (10) canbe mounted with its bearing projection (11) from the exterior side (41)of the door, wherein the electrical coupling part (31) correlated withthe handle (10) is arranged by means of a pivot bearing (71) on thebearing projection (11) of the handle (10), and a counter coupling part(32), correlated with the support part (20) of the electrical plug-inconnection (30) is at least one of pivotably and slidably arranged onthe support part (20).
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein thecounter coupling part (32) correlated with the support part (20) isarranged by means of a pivot bearing (71) on the support part (20). 3.Device according to claim 1, wherein the counter coupling part (32)correlated with the support part (20) is arranged by means of a doublepivot bearing (72) on the support part (20).
 4. Device according toclaim 3, wherein the double pivot bearing (72) is comprised of twobearings (73, 74).
 5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the twobearings (73, 74) are coupled with one another by means of a pivot lever(22).
 6. Device according to claim 5, wherein in one half of the pivotlever (22) a bearing eye (23) is arranged in which a bearing pin (39) ofthe counter coupling part (32) is seated and, in this way, a first pivotbearing (74) is formed, and on an oppositely positioned half of thepivot lever (22) on a side facing the support part (20) a bearing pin(24) is provided whose one part is formed as a sliding block (26), andon a securing stay (20′) of the support part (20) a bearing eye (28) isarranged into which a guide slot (27) opens from one side, and that in afirst position (75) of the bearing pin (24) the sliding block (26) islocated in the guide slot (27) and a remaining part of the bearing pin(24) is located in the bearing eye (28), while in a second position (76)the bearing pin (24) with its sliding block (26) is pivotable in thebearing eye (28).
 7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the countercoupling part (32) correlated with the support part (20) is arranged bymeans of a guide slot (27) on the support part (20).
 8. Device accordingto claim 1, wherein on the bearing projection (11) securing means (13)are provided which detachably engage engagement points (37) of theelectric coupling part (31).
 9. Device according to claim 1, wherein thepivot bearing (71) is comprised of a bearing hole (17) arranged in thebearing projection (11) and a rotary bearing axle (36) arranged on alower end of the electrical coupling part (31).
 10. Device according toclaim 1, wherein, in a first securing position (77) of the electricalcoupling part (31), securing means (13) engage engagement points (37) ofthe electrical coupling part (31), while the securing means (13) in asecond release position (778) are released from the engagement points(37) of the electrical coupling part (31) with release of the electricalcoupling part (31).